Soccer Sevens: AZ Alkmaar golden goal floors Brighton in Hong Kong final
Brighton denied repeat title after knocking out Aston Villa and West Ham, while Wrexham beaten by Kitchee in final of women’s competition
Dutch side AZ Alkmaar won the HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens on their debut in Hong Kong on Sunday, beating last year’s winners Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 with a dramatic golden goal.
The breakthrough came from goalkeeper Kiyani Zeggen, pushing up as an extra outfield player, after normal time ended 0-0. As a combination of caginess and fatigue brought proceedings to a near-standstill, Zeggen – only a last-ditch stand-in for the tournament – drove in the winner. Brighton’s players sank to the turf in despair.
Brighton had started as they had operated for most of the annual tournament at Football Club: dominating possession but creating little. Neither side were able to break the deadlock, taking the game to an extra four minutes in a four-versus-four format.
Zeggen dribbled forward and was fouled to earn Alkmaar a free kick. They played it back to Zeggen, who was five yards inside Brighton’s half.
He let fly from outside the area, the shot took a deflection off a defender and it flew out of reach of his opposite number Steven Hall. Cue wild celebrations.